While the Niagara chapter of Trout Unlimited may be temporarily mothballed, its former president says there is no intention to create any sort of rival group to the conservation organization. Trout Unlimited Canada paused operations of the Niagara chapter after its executive team resigned last May in support of then-president Dennis Edell, who said he was given the boot from the organization over the Niagara chapter’s opposition to a rebranding put forward by the national body that would change its name to Freshwater Conservation Canada.
“Let's say that there's certainly a lot of empathy towards what's happening in the watershed right now,” Edell said, adding “a lot of effort and mental energy” had been put into the Upper 12 Mile Creek watershed.
Kate Mairs, the director of marketing and communications for Trout Unlimited Canada said the organization will be moving ahead with the rebranding, taking on the new moniker on Nov. 5. The lines of communication are open with membership in the Niagara chapter, she said.
“The national organization has been in touch with all the members in the Niagara area to keep them up to date on the status of the chapter,” Mairs said in an email to PelhamToday. “They were informed that the executive team stepped down and anyone interested in taking on the roles were and are welcome to contact us.”
She added that a meeting would be held sometime in the fall or winter “to help re-invigorate the chapter.” Mairs had said in a previous email that there are still 23 active members in the Niagara chapter.
That was confirmed by Edell, who said anyone who was a member of the chapter was welcome to stay on.
“If you want to be a member, you could continue to be a member of Trout Unlimited, designating the Niagara chapter is your chapter,” he said. “If people want to renew their chapter membership, they can do that. We definitely didn't tell anybody to resign there.”
Prior to the resignation of the chapter leadership, Edell said the local group had “a pretty hands-off relationship” with the national organization and there were no issues that he was aware of.
“They support us in certain ways, but they weren't part of administering the chapter, or coming down here and visiting to attend events or anything like that,” he said. “It's pretty much the way it had been since the chapter had begun.”
Mairs said the national organization “has no issues” with members and supporters expressing opinions regarding the group’s initiatives including its upcoming rebranding.
“We believe the sharing of diverse opinions is a productive and necessary part of any process regarding the evolution of an organization,” she said.
As for relations with the Niagara chapter, Mairs said that issues relating to chapter compliance and “building a cooperative relationship between the chapter and the head office” were discussed with the chapter executive as issues arose over the last few years.
Edell, meanwhile, said he has been in contact with other former members of the chapter executive.
“I've spoken to members the executive, and had breakfast with a couple of them,” Edell said. “We’re involved in continuing the planning for the soldiers coming down in Oct. 1, 2, and 3 as individuals.”
The event – the Healing Waters weekend of fly fishing for veterans – had previously been administered by the Niagara chapter. It will be held this year with the help of the Hamilton Fly Fishers and Tyers.
As it has been in the past, the event will be held on the Effingham property of Niagara chapter member Doug Leavans.
And the Niagara chapter’s biggest concern – coming up with a way to stop erosion in at the headwaters of 12 Mile Creek near Hwy. 20 and Rice Road – has been answered. The project, which the chapter had been working to procure funding for has become a reality after the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority stepped in the complete the project. Edell recently visited the site.
“It’s really beautiful, as the construction is pretty much done,” he said.
